that big check bought them out of debt, but they spent little else. all you did with your house is put in a heat pump and siding? >> and a driveway. >> reporter: for the car that carries him to work, five years later. some students were worried he might quit. >> man, we're going to miss you like crazy. >> reporter: tyrone, you could be sleeping at 4:00 in the morning. >> you could be dog stuff. that's my philosophy. >> reporter: for "today," bob dotson, nbc news, with an american story in seattle, washington. >> well, good for him. we wish him all the best. >>> stocks are a little changed in today's early going. let's check in with cnbc's julia boorstin. she has more on that and the rest of the day ease business headlines. good day to you, julia. >> good morning, eun. it's another choppy, thin volume session, and stocks are up, but just slightly. the nasdaq up by nearly 5 points with, the s&p 500 up just a fraction of a point. banks among the worst performers of the day while consumer staples stocks are gaining. >>> prosecutors are meeting with lawyer